...previously published in Scale Aircraft Modelling, Model Aircraft and Airfix Model World magazines.

Tuesday, 21 December 2010

Schlangenschwarm Fw 190 - snake Staffel rocket launchers

...the last few stencils being added to this Revell Fw 190 (1/72) finished in the markings of 3./JGr.10, an operational bomber destroyer trials unit, Germany, September 1944. I used the decals from the Kagero Fw 190 monograph (Vol 1) - which went on just fine, although the Staffel codes should be black, outlined in red. Basically Kagero appeared to have copied the incorrect EagleCals sheet! The Revell A-8 is very slightly modified back to the A-7 variant (which is basically just relocating the pitot tube to the mid-wing position) and I used a new canopy sourced from another Fw 190 kit in order to depict it open. The underwing rocket launchers came from the Airfix Bf 109 G..3./JGr.10 flew in concert with II.(Sturm)/ JG 300 during September 1944 from Erfurt-Bindersleben and suffered very high losses - as did the Sturmgruppe. Although not depicted here many of their Fw 190s were fitted with the rearwards firing belly-mounted Krebs or 'crab' rocket launchers - designed to be fired after a firing pass through the bomber box. Veteran Sturmgruppe pilots I have corresponded with have referred to the Krebs rocket launchers as a " ..stupid idea. A fighter pilot could neither see nor aim to the rear.."